Louise O'Reilly

Sinn Féin · Dublin Fingal West

Activity on Social Protection — 426 events (18 lobbying · 408 questions · 0 votes) full profile →

• 2026-03-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first and full year cost of increasing the income threshold of the fuel allowance by 10%, 20% and 30% respectively, in tabular form; to provide an estimate of the number of applicants each threshold increase would incorporate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23365/26]
• 2026-03-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of households in receipt of the fuel allowance as of March 2026, broken down by primary payment type, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23366/26]
• 2026-03-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated number of additional households that will become eligible for the fuel allowance if the weekly means test thresholds were increased by 10%, 20% and 30%, broken down by the primary social welfare payment they are in receipt of, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23367/26]
• 2026-03-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a copy of the most recent SWITCH model runs used to cost fuel allowance threshold adjustments; and to provide details of the assumptions used regarding recipient elasticity and income distribution. [23368/26]
• 2026-03-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first and full year cost of extending the fuel allowance by a further 13 weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23369/26]
• 2026-03-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first and full year cost of increasing the maximum rate of the fuel allowance by €10, €15 and €20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23370/26]
• 2026-03-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of households in receipt of the working family payment as of March 2026; the average weekly payment; the total annual expenditure on the scheme in 2025 and the projected expenditure for 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23378/26]
• 2026-03-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual cost of increasing the minimum weekly working family payment from €20 to €30, to €40, and to €50; the estimated number of households that would benefit from each increase, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23379/26]
• 2026-03-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated number of additional households that would become eligible for the working family payment if the gross weekly income thresholds were increased by 10%, by 20%, and by 30%; the estimated cost of doing so, by family size, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23380/26]
• 2026-03-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of working family payment recipients who are also in receipt of fuel allowance following the March 2026 extension; the estimated cost of extending the fuel allowance threshold relaxation to all working family payment recipients at the current fuel allowance rate of €38, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23382/26]
• 2026-03-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of working family payment recipients by county; the number of recipients by family size (one child, two children, three or more children), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23383/26]
• 2026-03-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will provide the SWITCH model outputs used to cost any working family payment expansion options considered during Budget 2026, including threshold increases and rate increases considered but not implemented, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23384/26]
• 2026-03-03
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first and full year cost of increasing the threshold of WFP by 30%. [16174/26]
• 2026-03-03
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if an up-to-date public services card can be issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16990/26]
• 2026-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the rising rates of youth unemployment; the strategies he is developing to address this issue; if his attention has been drawn specifically to the causes of unemployment for the 18- to 24-year-old cohort; the extent to which he has investigated the impact of automation and AI on the youth labour market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15402/26]
• 2026-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to equalise the youth jobseeker’s rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15403/26]
• 2026-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection his engagement with the CRU, or energy providers, in relation to pay-as-you-go, or hardship metres; to detail the full extent of this engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15404/26]
• 2026-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in light of the recently published consumer price index figures, his plans to alleviate hardship through increases to core welfare payments; the fuel allowance; or any disability-contingent payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15413/26]
• 2026-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has given consideration to updating the communications allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15411/26]
• 2026-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he would consider tabulating his annual child poverty target with the material deprivation rate together with the rate at risk of poverty (after housing costs) as opposed to the current formula which incorporates the former with the at risk of poverty rate (before housing costs); if he is aware that the current child poverty target obscures the true scale of child poverty; if he will not consider making this change that he will explain his reasoning fully; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15414/26]
• 2026-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has given consideration to a tailored accessible weekly welfare payment for victims and survivors of rape, domestic, sexual and gender-based violence; if he is aware of the barriers and limitations of the disability allowance, jobseekers and illness benefit as alternatives, placing undue burdens, means-tests, contribution requirements and time constraints on victims/survivors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15410/26]
• 2026-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for clarity on the duties of landlords to tenants as regards payments made under the second HAS designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15412/26]
• 2026-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first and full year cost of a €100 lump sum payment to all recipients of the disability allowance; blind pension: invalidity pension; domiciliary care allowance; disablement benefit; incapacity supplement; illness benefit, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16166/26]
• 2026-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of a €100 lump sum to all recipients of the working family payment. [16167/26]
• 2026-02-25
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on youth unemployment; if he has plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8661/26]
• 2026-02-17
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he can examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11695/26]
• 2026-02-17
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 545 of 18 December 2025, if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11913/26]
• 2026-02-17
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 109 of 14 January 2026, if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11914/26]
• 2026-02-17
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the implementation of systems (details supplied) within his Department; whether the systems are used to process and store social welfare recipient data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12195/26]
• 2026-02-12
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11158/26]
• 2026-02-04
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that potential overpayments of the PUP are being recouped at present; if he is aware that estimates are being given to recipients; if he will consider providing more than 21 days for reply, with additional information given the length of time that has elapsed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8596/26]
• 2026-01-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of all consultations undertaken to date with persons with disabilities and their representative organisations in relation to the proposed cost of disability payment; to provide a chronological timeline of these consultations, including dates, format (that is meetings, forums, surveys); the location where relevant; to specify which individuals, disability organisations, and advocacy groups were consulted at each stage; the issues or proposals which were discussed at each consultation; the feedback or recommendations which were received; the way in which this feedback has informed policy development to date; the further consultation which is planned, including expected timelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5802/26]
• 2026-01-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the progress made towards a material reduction in rates of child poverty. [7091/26]
• 2026-01-21
  LOBBY
  Society of St. Vincent de Paul Social Protection

  • Engagement with Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development
• 2026-01-21
  LOBBY
  Rehab Group Social Protection

  • Response to provisions for Wage Subsidy Scheme in Budget 2026
• 2026-01-20
  LOBBY
  Irish Cancer Society Social Protection

  • Energy hardship
• 2026-01-16
  LOBBY
  ALONE Social Protection

  • Meeting request to members of Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection to quantify the material impact of the withdrawal of energy credits and the decrease in the real value of the fuel allowance has had on the at risk of poverty after housing costs rate and on the material deprivation rate, specifically in households at highest risk of poverty; if he has given consideration to a cost of living package targeting energy poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2822/26]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the roll-out of auto-enrolment; specifically for an update on his engagement with other Departments as regards the roll-out of auto-enrolment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2823/26]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has given consideration to additional cost-of-living measures, given the increased rates of poverty after housing costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2838/26]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has given consideration to a cost of disability payment given the increasing vulnerability of households with one or more disabled members to poverty; his plans to ameliorate this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2837/26]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the fuel allowance, per month, for the past three years, specifying which of these applicants are also in receipt of the working family payment or another automatically qualifying social welfare payment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2836/26]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that customers on pre-pay energy arrangements are finding their energy cut-off abruptly for days at a time while applying to the community welfare officer for emergency supplementary payments; if he is aware of the material deprivation these customers are being subjected to; if he has any plans to implement a system that will provide more timely help; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2839/26]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the supplementary welfare allowance per month, for the past three years, specifying the original qualifying welfare payment and the reasons for each application by percentage, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2840/26]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has plans to expand funding to the CE, RSS and Tús schemes given the rising rates of youth unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68469/25]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to address the cost of disability as it affects people with disabilities living in rural communities. [68470/25]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to shift provision of the hot school meals scheme to non-profits (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68468/25]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for a cost of disability package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73016/25]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends to increase and benchmark the fuel allowance to restore purchasing power at 2020 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73017/25]
• 2026-01-14
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who was wrongly advised to claim disability allowance and who has now applied for invalidity pension and has been refused due to insufficient PRSI contributions but would have had sufficient contributions at the time of application can have their claim assessed on the basis of the original application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2641/26]
• 2026-01-14
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the entitlements to benefits without means testing survivors of the Hepatitis C scandal have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2642/26]
• 2026-01-14
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the application process for higher scales for administrative grades below the grade of assistant principal operated in his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2658/26]
• 2025-12-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the way a particular welfare payment (details supplied) was calculated as regards furnishing social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73433/25]
• 2025-12-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has given any consideration to a cost-of-disability payment.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73434/25]
• 2025-12-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the one-payment-per-household rule for the fuel allowance scheme whereby adult children on low incomes are living in the family home due to the housing crisis and are refused support based on parental income alone, despite individually qualifying for the scheme; and the plans to allow eligibility to be assessed on an individual basis in such circumstances. [73435/25]
• 2025-12-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that workers are protected from redundancy only once maternity leave has officially begun; if he is aware that this means that even if a pregnant woman has only a few days left before her leave starts, she can still be made redundant; if he is aware of the difficulties for someone who is two months away from giving birth to find a new job in this situation; if he is aware of the material difference between jobseeker’s benefit and continuing stable employment while preparing for childbirth and caring for a newborn; if he has considered that this uncertainty alone brings enormous stress to an expectant mother; if he will consider examining the UK and the rest-of-EU approach, where there are stronger protections for pregnant employees facing redundancy, when looking into this matter; if will consider strengthening protections in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73437/25]
• 2025-12-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that domestic abuse rent supplement is available for three months without a means test; if he understands that a victim of domestic abuse in some circumstances is working and required to pay the mortgage on the property where the children live; if this payment is considered as part of the means test in the case where the person cannot live in the family home; if there are any circumstance in which this supplement can be accessed for more than three months without a means test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73440/25]
• 2025-12-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has considered implementing a ‘saver clause’ similar to that used when someone transitions from disability allowance to the State pension (non-contributory) for those in receipt of carer’s allowance when they transition to the State pension (non-contributory); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73441/25]
• 2025-12-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which carer's allowance and disability allowance will be taxed from 1 January 2026 onwards; the differences which will be between tax procedures in 2025 and 2026; the impact this will have on welfare recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69130/25]
• 2025-12-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of individuals who received the carers support grant in June 2025 and who are not also in receipt of carer’s allowance or carer’s benefit. [68017/25]
• 2025-11-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that information relevant to an appeal of a refusal to award DCA to a parent can take time to obtain; if he is further aware that sometimes, parents need to submit additional information while the appeal is submitted and pending; if he can advise whether this can be done right up to the decision on the appeal being made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66839/25]
• 2025-11-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if, when a person withdraws an appeal against the refusal to award DCA and re-submits their application again, and this is awarded, if any backdating will be to the date of the first submission or the second; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66840/25]
• 2025-11-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if fire fighters with the Dublin Fire Brigade with a preserved pension age of 55 are entitled to the same benefit payment that 65 year-olds are entitled to on retirement; if this benefit is the same or equivalent to the pay related job seeker’s benefit; the length of time this is paid without means testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66841/25]
• 2025-11-19
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he can provide details of his Department’s involvement in the Letterkenny gift card scheme; if he can also provide details of similar schemes including, any cross-Border initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64256/25]
• 2025-11-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the provisions that have been made to ensure that agencies, organisations, charities and service providers funded by his Department will be able to meet their obligations under the new auto-enrolment scheme. [62181/25]
• 2025-11-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for an estimate of the number of new people who will be eligible to receive carer’s allowance following budget 2026; if he will explain to carers who are currently excluded by the means test exactly when they will be made aware of when they will become eligible; the amount his Department is prepared to spend on the relaxation of the carer’s means test, given that this was not made clear in the budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62427/25]
• 2025-11-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason his Department uses a different model of SWITCH compared to that of the ESRI; the reason for the choice to use a simplified model; if he will provide a breakdown of the specific differences between the SWITCH models used by the Department and the ESRI; to provide a breakdown of variables available in the ESRI SWITCH model that are not available to the Department, in tabular form; if he is aware of the impact this has or the limitations it could impose on Department poverty and child poverty targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62183/25]
• 2025-11-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of his withdrawal of energy credits and the steady increase in households seeking financial support with energy costs, the additional supports or measures he will provide above what has already been committed to in Budget 2026 to address this rising need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62185/25]
• 2025-11-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of hours spent implementing the means-test for carer’s allowance; the cost of this work to implement the means test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62182/25]
• 2025-11-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he has any plans to adapt auto-enrolment to cater for self-employed people; if he has any plans to provide an alternative for them; if he will outline the options of unemployed people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62186/25]
• 2025-11-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the €10 million euro allocated towards the relaxation of the carer’s means test comes under €1,152 million for 'Key policy adjustments' or from the €390 million 'increase in pension and illness, disability, carers scheme recipients'; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62428/25]
• 2025-11-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection whether funding for new recipients of the carer’s allowance, who would not have qualified under the current income disregards but who will qualify on foot of the budget 2026 measure, is allocated from the €390 million 'increase in pension and illness, disability, carers scheme recipients' or elsewhere; and the amount he plans to allocate to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62429/25]
• 2025-11-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for a breakdown of the estimated 30,000 additional recipients across the pension, illness, disability and carers schemes respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62430/25]
• 2025-11-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for a breakdown of the 30,000 additional pension and IDC recipients across the numbers resulting from changes to schemes announced as Budget 2026 measures versus the numbers resulting from demographic changes. [62431/25]
• 2025-11-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the provisions that have been made to ensure that agencies, organisations and charities funded by his Department will be able to meet their obligations under the new AE scheme. [62455/25]
• 2025-11-12
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of hours spent implementing the means-test for carer's allowance; the cost of this work to implement the means test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61694/25]
• 2025-11-04
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has any plans, or if he has done any work on reciprocal arrangements, whereby Irish citizens resident in Northern Ireland will access core welfare payments, such as carer's allowance, when their PRSI contributions have been used up and they are no longer eligible for carer's benefit; if he is aware of the hardship incurred on carers resident in Northern Ireland who face a sharp income cliff given that they are not eligible for carer's allowance; if he is aware of the extent to which this is a widespread issue across the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58377/25]
• 2025-11-04
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the specific circumstances under which a person who is working is not entitled to be auto-enrolled in My Future Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58378/25]
• 2025-11-04
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the specific circumstances under which a person who is working may be a member, simultaneously of a private pension and My Future Fund where the employer contributes to the private pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58379/25]
• 2025-11-04
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of languages in which a comprehensive guide to My Future Fund is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58380/25]
• 2025-11-04
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a copy of the guidelines issued to employers regarding auto-enrolment and the treatment of workers eligible for auto-enrolment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58381/25]
• 2025-11-04
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the options for workers for whom My Future Fund would be more financially favourable than their existing pension plan; if such persons can become enrolled in the My Future Fund and under which circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58382/25]
• 2025-11-04
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the sanctions in place for employers who refuse to implement auto-enrolment by the January 2026 deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58436/25]
• 2025-11-04
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the sanctions in place for employers who are shown to be illegally obliging workers to join another pension scheme such that they are prevented from accessing My Future Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58437/25]
• 2025-11-04
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a breakdown of the reason 50,000 fewer employees are expected to be enrolled in My Future Fund; the demographics of this group, by age, profession and gender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58467/25]
• 2025-10-21
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will list the countries with which Ireland has reciprocal agreements regarding social insurance contributions for pensions and other core welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57350/25]
• 2025-10-07
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will respond to the recommendation of the Comptroller and Auditor General that his Department should examine the scope for receiving more complete information on the economic sectors, source and type of income giving rise to Class S PRSI contributions; the procedures and guidance he will put in place as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53786/25]
• 2025-10-07
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the Comptroller and Auditor General's recommendation that his Department should introduce a formal strategy for both the regular review of older outstanding debt, in particular for pre-2011 cases and for the targeted review of certain cohorts of debtors on a periodic basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53787/25]
• 2025-10-07
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update as to progress on refunds to a supplier following an overcharge of almost €786,000 uncovered by the Comptroller and Auditor General in relation to 98 schools during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic periods; the reason refunds are being made on a phased basis as opposed to a lump sum; the timeline of these refunds; the extent to which refunds are being successfully recovered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53788/25]
• 2025-10-07
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that section 179(4) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005's criteria for when a relevant person shall be regarded as requiring full-time care and attention precludes many carers of neurodivergent people; if he is aware that this passage does not acknowledge the essential needs specific to neurodivergent people who require full-time care and attention; if guidance within his Department regarding these criteria and their application has been adapted so as to extend carer's allowance to carers of neurodivergent people; if guidance has been updated; if guidance has been sent out at a local level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53789/25]
• 2025-09-25
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that the measurement 'consistent poverty' obscures the full number of people both at risk of poverty and in material deprivation; if he is aware that 'consistent poverty' fails to account for housing costs; if he will consider using both 'material deprivation' and 'at risk of poverty after housing costs' as alternative measures for future national child poverty targets; if he will ensure all research commissioned on the topic of child poverty utilises both 'material deprivation' and 'at risk of poverty after housing costs' when measuring poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50375/25]
• 2025-09-25
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools under contract to a supplier (details supplied) under the hot school meals programme; the number of these schools that exclusively cater to additional educational needs; the number that are DEIS schools; the number that are DEIS+ schools; his plan to provide parents of children affected by the cessation of the services with a stipend while a new contractor is being procured; the options for school meal provision for children affected in the meantime; if alternative cold lunches will be subsidised or provided by the Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50376/25]
• 2025-09-25
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the fact that when custody is split between two separated or divorced co-parents, there is no mechanism by which both co-parents may each receive half of the children's allowance and the children's allowance instead universally goes to the mother regardless of circumstances; if he is aware of the financial hardship this can incur on fathers who co-parent equally; his plans to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50385/25]
• 2025-09-25
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any process by which former partners who were divorced or separated from the bereaved ie, widows; widowers; surviving civil partners and surviving cohabitants, who are not covered by the bereaved partners pension may access compensation or financial assistance for funeral costs; the costs of raising the bereaved's children; if he will consider making such supports available to this cohort in light of the financial hardship incurred on them by the loss of their former partner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50388/25]
• 2025-09-25
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the ESRI's recent findings from their report on 'Poverty, Income Inequality and Living Standards in Ireland' that almost one in five children are at risk of poverty after housing costs; if he is aware of the ESRI's recent finding that almost half of lone parent families are at risk of poverty after housing costs; if he has any plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50386/25]
• 2025-09-25
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider removing means-testing for access to social protection supports e.g. fuel allowance and the household energy package, for people with an end-of-life cancer diagnosis; if he is aware that an organisation (details supplied) funded research in which people reported energy hardship in households where people are receiving palliative care in the home, including struggling with their fuel bills; if he will consider extending access to these social protection supports on the same basis as people with an end-of-life cancer diagnosis get access to an end-of-life medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50384/25]
• 2025-09-23
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will ensure the new national child poverty target published 10 September 2025 is made publicly available on gov.ie; the reason it has not been available publicly between the 10 and 15 of September 2025 (inclusive); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49899/25]
• 2025-09-23
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason it is not standard practice across the board in the Department’s research, data collection and reports to account for the at risk of poverty rate both before and after housing costs; the reason the Department does not always measure the at risk of poverty rate after housing costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49900/25]
• 2025-09-20
  LOBBY
  Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) Social Protection

  • Bereaved Partner’s Bill 2025
• 2025-09-19
  LOBBY
  Irish Rural Link Co-Operative Society Limited Budgetary matters

  • Presented Irish Rural Link Pre-Budget Submission to Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection and Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
• 2025-09-18
  LOBBY
  The Wheel Community

  • Policy staff from The Wheel were invited to address the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development regarding our Pre-Budget Submission 2026.
• 2025-09-17
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools under contract to a supplier (details supplied) under the hot school meals programme; the number of schools that exclusively cater to additional educational needs; the number that are DEIS schools; the number that are DEIS+ schools; his plans to provide parents of children affected by the cessation of the services with a stipend while a new contractor is being procured; the options for school meal provision for children affected in the meantime; if alternative cold lunches will be subsidised or provided by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47864/25]
• 2025-09-16
  LOBBY
  Care Alliance Ireland Social Protection

  • Sent Pre-Budget Submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection. This Submission was invited by the Committee as part of the annual Pre-Budget process. We have registered this lobbying with each member of the Committee out of an abundance of caution.
• 2025-09-16
  LOBBY
  ARI Social Protection

  • Active Retirement Ireland's policy recommendations as included in the pre-budget submission to the Department of Social Protection. Policy recommendations pertain to pension reform, income supports, Treatment Benefit Scheme (specifically inclusion of hearing tests), as well as whole of government strategies for positive aging, combatting ageism and the establishment of an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People.
• 2025-09-11
  LOBBY
  Inclusion Ireland Budgetary matters

  • We contacted Deputies Ó Murchú, O'Reilly, O'Rourke, Doherty, and Cullinane, in their respective capacities as Sinn Féin's disability, social protection, finance, education, and health spokespeople, to invite them to a briefing of Inclusion Ireland's Pre-Budget Submission's priorities, along with a fully copy of the document for their consideration.
• 2025-09-11
  LOBBY
  Simon Communities of Ireland Social Protection

  • Appearance before Joint Committee on Social Protection
• 2025-09-08
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first-year and full-year cost of increasing the maximum rate of the additional needs payment for additional diet expenses by €1. [45798/25]
• 2025-09-08
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first-year and full-year cost of two double monthly child benefit payments. [45874/25]
• 2025-09-08
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of increasing jobseeker’s transitional payment by €1. [46301/25]
• 2025-09-08
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of increasing the income disregard for jobseekers transitional payment by 10%. [46302/25]
• 2025-09-08
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of increasing the income disregard for working family payment by 10%. [46303/25]
• 2025-09-08
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of introducing a part-time rate of job seekers for self employed making less than a 40 hour week at the current minimum wage. [46304/25]
• 2025-08-22
  LOBBY
  Polio Survivors Ireland Social Protection

  • Wrote to the Joint Committee on Social Protection
• 2025-07-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for social welfare payment delays on 7 and 14 July 2025; the way in which the issue was rectified; the measures taken to prevent a recurrence; if both delays were caused by the same issue or by different issues; the steps that have been taken to prevent these issues from reoccurring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41412/25]
• 2025-07-16
  PQ
  Asked Health

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of ongoing delays in processing blind welfare allowance applications throughout the Midlands and Western regions; if she will review this matter and establish the role of the Department of Social Protection in any such delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40097/25]
• 2025-07-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first-year and full-year cost of increasing community employment, Tús and rural social scheme payments by €1 per week, each year for three years. [36569/25]
• 2025-07-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first-year and full-year cost of doubling the monthly child benefit payment for a year for all recipients of the one family payment and the working family payment. [36570/25]
• 2025-07-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first-year and full-year cost of doubling the monthly child benefit payment for a year for all households with medical card holders. [36571/25]
• 2025-07-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first-year and full-year cost of abolishing the means test applied to foster parents in receipt of the child benefit payment. [36572/25]
• 2025-07-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first-year and full-year cost of increasing the State pension by €1 per week per person. [36573/25]
• 2025-07-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first-year and full-year cost of increasing all working-age social welfare payments (recipients aged 18-65 inclusive) to bring them in line with the minimum essential standards of living. [36574/25]
• 2025-07-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the additional first-year and full-year cost of increasing the age limit for the one-parent family payment to 12 years. [36575/25]
• 2025-07-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the additional first-year and full-year cost of increasing the living alone allowance. [36576/25]
• 2025-07-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the current cost of non-State pension social protection payments to people aged 65. [36577/25]
• 2025-07-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children resident in IPAS accommodation who are eligible to receive the child benefit payment. [36578/25]
• 2025-07-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first-year and full-year cost of providing a carer’s pension, at 2% contribution of the minimum annual living wage. [36586/25]
• 2025-07-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children currently residing in IPAS accommodation who are eligible for child benefit as opposed to the DEA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35291/25]
• 2025-06-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the case of a social welfare appeals office decision (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35090/25]
• 2025-06-24
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to ensure that women forced to leave the civil service due to the marriage bar can access a non-means-tested State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33599/25]
• 2025-06-24
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that due to a recent change in Department policy, activation officers are now required to meet with jobseeker’s when they have only been on a social welfare payment for 300 days; if he is aware that they are then referred to Intreo partners, i.e., local employment area service, and so on; if he is aware that individuals cannot be referred on to a community employment programme until they have been on a social welfare payment for 365 days and as a result jobseekers are meeting with at least two different agencies in the time before they become eligible for the programme; if he understands that this means those who are suitable for community employment are not getting the best chance to be referred on to the programme; if he is aware that this has resulted in local community groups in Meath and Louth noticing many issues with those who are being referred to them regarding their suitability for the programme (details supplied); if his Department will consider changing its eligibility policy on accepting trainees at the 300-day stage instead of waiting until 365 days have passed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33622/25]
• 2025-06-19
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the groups excluded from the jobseeker’s pay-related benefit, in particular the seasonal, casual, short-time or part-time workers such as school caretakers and secretaries who could benefit considerably from receiving the jobseeker’s pay-related benefit in lieu of the jobseeker’s benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33101/25]
• 2025-06-19
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the considerable financial burden the cost of school tablets imposes on parents; if he will consider expanding the back-to-school payment or introducing a device allowance for children attending schools that require tablets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33102/25]
• 2025-06-19
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the child poverty monitor report from a group (detail supplied); if he has any plans to address its findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33106/25]
• 2025-06-19
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of a cohort of people in the State with five plus years of PRSI contributions who are only entitled to the minimum rate of jobseeker’s pay-related benefit; if he is aware that this group, due to historically favourable circumstances in the housing market may have had the means to purchase a house, pay off a mortgage or accumulate savings and as such fail the means-test or qualify for a reduced rate of jobseeker’s allowance; if he is aware that this group are often women who historically worked part-time in order to do unpaid care work, who often worked for minimum wage their entire career and whose spouse/civil partner/qualified cohabitant’s income means they fail the means-test or qualify for a reduced rate of jobseeker’s allowance; if he is aware of the hardship incurred on these groups as a result of the limitations of jobseeker’s pay-related benefit; if he will consider extending the scheme to include more of those who fall into former group; if he will consider raising the minimum rate of jobseeker’s pay-related benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33104/25]
• 2025-06-19
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that employers are not obligated to make pension contributions during unpaid maternity leave unless stipulated in the employment contract; if he is aware of the hardship this incurs on new mothers and parents later in life; if he plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33105/25]
• 2025-06-19
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if, further to the most recent fine imposed on his Department by the data protection commissioner for deficiencies in compliance with data protection rules, he will provide details of each Government Department or agency that this data was shared with; if he will confirm that the data in question has been deleted by his Department and/or other Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33107/25]
• 2025-06-19
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the fact that when custody is split between two separated or divorced co-parents there is no mechanism by which both co-parents may each receive half of the children’s allowance; the children’s allowance instead, when there is a mother and father co-parenting, goes to the mother regardless of circumstances; if he is aware of the financial hardship this can incur on fathers who co-parent equally; if he has any plans to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33103/25]
• 2025-06-17
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person's income averaged over a number of years can be used to calculate the amount of pay-related jobseeker's payment in cases in which their income for the previous 12 months is not representative of their income for the duration of their employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31953/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if kinship carers are eligible for the back to school allowance. [31180/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of extending child benefit to families in the international protection process. [31181/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost and feasibility of setting up a new departmental team to address child poverty. [31182/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost to increase working age social welfare payments by €1. [31183/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of increasing disability allowance, invalidity pension and blind pension by €1. [31184/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of increasing the qualified child increase for over-12s by €1. [31185/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of increasing the qualified child increase for under-12s by €1. [31186/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of restoring the right to retire at 65 and reintroducing the State pension. [31187/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of introducing a long term carer’s pension. [31188/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of a €1 increase to the household benefits gas or electricity payment. [31189/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of expanding the free travel scheme to include those in receipt of domiciliary care allowance. [31198/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of pension provision for foster carers and kinship carers; figures to be given separately. [31200/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of extending the guardian payment to cover children over the age of 12. [31201/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of increasing the rate of guardian payment to be on par with the foster allowance. [31202/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of hiring a case worker to help social welfare applicants. [31203/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of increasing support for social welfare applicants struggling with literacy or accessibility. [31205/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of doubling the provision of paternity leave benefit to four weeks. [31206/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of extending parent’s leave benefit up to eight weeks. [31207/25]
• 2025-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of providing up to 20 days of reproductive leave, as outlined in the reproductive health-related leave bill. [31208/25]
• 2025-06-10
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of a recurring cost-of-disability payment of €2,600 a year, or €50 a week. [30193/25]
• 2025-06-10
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing core rates of social protection by at minimum €20 to restore the purchasing power of the payment to 2020 levels. [30194/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first year and full-year cost of increasing the one parent family payment and supplementary welfare allowance by €1. [28439/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the Carer’s Allowance by €12 and abolishing the means test, assuming that abolishing the means test would lead to an increase of an additional 25,605 eligible recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28440/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first year and full year cost of a pay-related carer’s benefit according to the same criteria as the pay-related jobseeker’s benefit. [28441/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first year and full-year cost of increasing the carer’s allowance by €1. [28442/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first year and full-year cost of increasing domiciliary care allowance by €1. [28443/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first year and full-year cost of increasing the annual carer’s support grant to €2000, 2250 and 2500. [28444/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of increasing jobseeker’s allowance by €1. [28445/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of increasing the state pension by €1. [28446/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of increasing weekly increases for qualified adults, in line with the MESL. [28447/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of increasing qualified child payment for over and under 12s by €1. [28448/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of establishing a social welfare adequacy commission. [28449/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of increasing the age-limit of the one parent family payment to 12 years and jobseeker’s transitional payment to 15 years. [28450/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of increasing the age-limit of the jobseeker’s transitional payment until a family’s youngest child has completed secondary education or turns 18, whichever is older. [28451/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of extending the fuel allowance eligibility to all working family payment recipients. [28452/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of reintroducing the State pension for 65-year-olds. [28453/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full-year cost of extending parental leave and benefit by 1 week. [28454/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full year cost of a €50 Christmas bonus for all recipients of jobseeker’s allowance, jobseeker’s benefit, jobseeker’s pay-related benefit, jobseeker’s transitional payment, jobseeker’s benefit self-employed. [28455/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full year cost of a €50 payment to all recipients of the working family payment [28456/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full year cost of a €50 payment to all recipients of the disability allowance. [28457/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full year cost of a €50 payment to all recipients of the carer’s allowance. [28458/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full year cost of a €50 payment to all recipients of the living alone allowance. [28459/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full year cost of €50 qualified child increment lump sum payment. [28460/25]
• 2025-05-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full year cost of doubling a single payment of the foster carer allowance payment. [28461/25]
• 2025-05-21
  LOBBY
  Treoir (Federation of Services for Unmarried Parents and their Children) Social Protection

  • Ask TDs to support enactment of the Bereaved Partners Pension Bill
• 2025-05-20
  LOBBY
  National Youth Council of Ireland Social Protection

  • Jobseekers Allowance for young people
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that entitlement to survivor's pensions was expanded to included divorced people as part of a suite of measures in the mid-1990s to ensure that "no spouse would lose out in terms of his or her social welfare entitlements on becoming divorced" (details supplied); if he still supports that policy position; the rationale for reducing the social welfare entitlements of divorced and separated people whose former partner has died in the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025; if he will explain the new and conflicting policy position adopted by his Department to the effect, that the death of an individual should only result in one claim for a bereaved partner's pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25553/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that people who suffer the loss of a second spouse or civil partner may access their original survivor's pension or rate of pension pursuant to section 124(4) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005; if he is aware that the original policy rationale behind this provision was to ensure that the "pension position of these people will be protected under legislation (details supplied); the rationale for reducing the social welfare entitlements of people who suffer the death of a second partner in the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25554/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that divorced and separated people whose former partner dies after the enactment of the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025 (as currently drafted) will no longer have an entitlement to a survivor's pension; if his Department has undertaken any risk assessment or poverty-proofing process concerning the proposals to reduce the social welfare entitlements of divorced and separated people in the 2025 Bill; the plans which are in place to mitigate the financial impact of these proposals on divorced and separated individuals and their children who suffer a bereavement after the enactment of the 2025 Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25555/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has undertaken any human rights and equality impact assessment concerning the proposals to reduce the social welfare entitlements of divorced and separated people whose former partner has died in the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025; if he is aware that undertaking such an assessment is consistent with his Department's obligations under the Public Sector Human Rights and Equality Duty; if any such assessments have included an analysis of the impact of these proposals on groups protected under the gender, civil status and family status grounds in the equality legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25556/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who were divorced or separated from their former spouse or civil partner at the time of their death who then began receiving a widows, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension in each of the years 2019 to 2024; the number of those claims included an increase in respect of a qualified child or children; the total cost to his Department, the Exchequer and the Social Insurance Fund of providing such pensions to these cohorts in each of the five years concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25557/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who suffered a second bereavement and who re-commenced receipt of a widows, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension (or higher rate of pension) pursuant to section 124(4) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 in each of the years 2019 to 2024; the number of those claims included an increase in respect of a qualified child or children; the total cost to his Department, the Exchequer and the Social Insurance Fund of providing such pensions to these cohorts in each of the five years concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25558/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline any estimates or projections available to his Department concerning the annual cost to his Department, the Exchequer and the Social Insurance Fund of expanding the scope of widows, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension schemes to include qualified cohabitants (as per the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25559/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline any estimates or projections available to his Department concerning the annual savings to his Department, the Exchequer and the Social Insurance Fund of reducing the scope of widows, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension schemes to exclude divorced people, separated people and people who have suffered a second bereavement (as per the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25560/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance. . [25907/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of the fuel allowance. [25908/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of the fuel allowance for 2025. [25909/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of child benefit for the year. [25910/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost to recruit and pay an annual salary to a single welfare officer. [25911/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost the estimated cost of a €50 payment to all recipients of the fuel allowance. [25912/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of part-time, seasonal, casual and short-time workers in receipt of Jobseeker’s benefit. [25913/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of a €1 increase per person to the fuel allowance. [25914/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people currently in receipt of the fuel allowance. [25915/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of the working family payment. [25916/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people currently in receipt of a combination of one, some or all of disability allowance, blind pension and invalidity pension payments. [25917/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost to increase the age limit for the one family payment to 12 years. [25918/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of increasing the carer’s support grant by €50. [25919/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first-year and full-year cost of introducing a long-term carer’s pension [25920/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first-year and full-year cost of a once-off €50 payment to all recipients of the carer’s support grant, carer’s benefit and carer’s allowance. [25921/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first-year and full-year cost of increasing State pension payments by €1. [25923/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first-year and full-year cost of equalising rates of jobseeker’s allowance, jobseeker’s benefit and jobseeker’s pay-related benefit for those under the ages of 18 to 24. [25924/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of a €1 increase in the child benefit monthly rate. [25925/25]
• 2025-05-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of a person (details supplied) who has been waiting eight months for a decision to be made in respect of his appeal of a rejected application for the working family payment; if he is aware of the undue hardship and distress this causes the appellant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24990/25]
• 2025-05-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of working family payment applications received; the number of working family payment applications awarded; the number of working family payment applications withdrawn; the average time in weeks from date of application submission to award in the first instance; the number of working family payment applications that were carried over to the next year; the number of appeals made regarding working family payment; the number of appeals allowed; the number of appeals partially allowed; the number of appeals rejected; the number of appeals carried over to the next year, by year, from 2020 to 2025; the average time in weeks from date of application submission to final decision in respect of an appeal, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24991/25]
• 2025-05-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 292 of 10 April 2025 and 1418 of 29 April 2025, without mentioning or outlining “child benefit”, whether all parents or guardians of newly adopted children under 18 are eligible for the new baby grant, regardless of the child’s age on date of placement; if there is a cut-off age whereby adopted children are deemed ineligible for the new baby grant on their date of placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25064/25]
• 2025-05-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection to publish internal documents specifying particular protocols used by deciding officers to award applications for social welfare income payment beyond just the publicly available operational guidelines; in particular if he could publish the ‘homeless protocol’; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25065/25]
• 2025-05-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any plan to implement recommendation No. 12 from the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, and the Islands, Report on Means Testing in the Social Welfare System in Ireland, October 2024 (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23744/25]
• 2025-05-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a breakdown of the average processing time, average appeal processing times, the number of applications that were successful, the number of applications rejected, the number of rejected applications appealed, the number of appeals granted, and the average length of time from application to final decision, for each of the years 2017, 2018, 2023 and 2024 and for the first quarter of 2025, for several social welfare payments (details supplied), in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23754/25]
• 2025-05-09
  LOBBY
  Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) Social Protection

  • Providing relevant TDs with FLAC’s Preliminary Analysis to the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025.
• 2025-05-07
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of domiciliary care allowance applications received; the amount of domiciliary care allowance applications awarded; the amount of domiciliary care allowance applications withdrawn; the average time in weeks to award; the amount of domiciliary care allowance applications that were carried over to the next year; the amount of appeals made regarding domiciliary care allowance; the amount of appeals allowed; the amount of appeals partially allowed; the amount of appeals rejected; the amount of appeals carried over to the next year, by year from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22464/25]
• 2025-05-07
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of disability allowance applications received; the amount of disability allowance applications awarded; the amount of disability allowance applications withdrawn; the average time in weeks to award; the amount of disability allowance applications that were carried over to the next year; the amount of appeals made regarding disability allowance; the amount of appeals allowed; the amount of appeals partially allowed; the amount of appeals rejected; the amount of appeals carried over to the next year by year from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22465/25]
• 2025-05-07
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an up-to-date breakdown of the number of recipients of disability allowance by qualifying medical condition, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22466/25]
• 2025-05-07
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for an estimation of the cost to extend jobseeker’s pay-related benefit to part-time, seasonal and casual workers, who find themselves periodically out of work and are currently eligible to avail of jobseeker’s benefit; the number of part-time, seasonal and casual workers in receipt of jobseeker’s benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22467/25]
• 2025-05-07
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that many schools using iPads require payment for the devices by the end of the school year; if he understands that many parents rely on the back to school payments to help towards the payment for devices; if he has considered addressing this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22813/25]
• 2025-05-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of concerns raised about the nutritional value of school meals; if he has considered utilising non-profit groups like an organisation (details supplied) for this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21757/25]
• 2025-05-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that there is a disparity in the assessment of child maintenance across different forms of supports; if he will give consideration to standardising this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21758/25]
• 2025-05-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that qualified surviving cohabitants bereaved before January 22nd 2024 are not entitled to receive retrospective bereaved partner’s pension payments from before that date; if the Minister is aware of the number of qualified surviving cohabitants in this situation; if he is aware of the hardship endured by qualified surviving cohabitants over the years due to lack of access to a bereaved partner’s pension; if he will consider backdating payments to all qualified surviving cohabitants who apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21760/25]
• 2025-05-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will give an update on the pension auto-enrolment scheme; when it will be rolled out; the cause for recent delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21762/25]
• 2025-05-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the hardship endured by adults aged 18-24 who are denied access to the full rate of jobseeker’s allowance; if he is aware of the impact this has on poverty rates among youth jobseeker’s allowance recipients; if he will consider abolishing the reduced rate for people aged 18-24 in light of this impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21764/25]
• 2025-05-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications made for disability allowance, between 2020 and the first quarter of 2025, in tabular form; the number of applications that were successful; the number of applications rejected; the number of rejected applications appealed; the number of appeals granted; the average length of time from application to final decision, per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21759/25]
• 2025-04-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person working as a school caretaker who is laid off for school closures is entitled to claim pay related jobseeker's benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18534/25]
• 2025-04-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection , further to Parliamentary Question No. 293 of 10 April, the maximum age of an adoptee on their date of placement by which their parents or guardians are still eligible to receive the new baby grant; the exact definition of baby as pertains to the new baby grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19427/25]
• 2025-04-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the inequitable treatment of young widowed people in Ireland, particularly in the areas of taxation, financial supports, and access to essential benefits under current social protection policy; if he will consider retaining dual tax credits and rate bands for widows, widowers and surviving civil partners, extending financial supports to widows, widowers and surviving civil partners that reflect the long-term realities of supporting children through school and college, and the challenges widowed people face as sole caregivers and provide access to sick leave so as widowed people are not penalised for needing time to address their own health and well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19580/25]
• 2025-04-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will advise of the difference between a solemniser and a celebrant for the purpose of officiating at weddings and other services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19582/25]
• 2025-04-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline the difference between a solemniser and a celebrant for the purpose of civil ceremonies; if both have to be registered in order to perform a ceremony; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19583/25]
• 2025-04-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) and provide support for this person to access their full entitlements to social welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19584/25]
• 2025-04-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will disclose which groups have lobbied him regarding the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Act 2024, the automatic enrolment of workers into pension schemes, the timing and implementation of automatic enrolment, including all documentation, correspondences, meetings and minutes of meetings with lobbyists related to automatic enrolment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20525/25]
• 2025-04-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the substantial reduction in income for some recipients of the widow’s/widower’s/surviving civil partner’s contributory pension when they reach the age of 66 and transition to the State pension and the hardship incurred as a result; if he is aware that this disproportionately affects women; if he will review this policy with a view to restoring the widow’s/widower’s/surviving civil partner’s contributory pension beyond age 66 where financial hardship persists; if he will commission an independent assessment into whether this policy constitutes age and/or gender-based discrimination under the Equal Status Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20607/25]
• 2025-04-10
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is an age limit for the new baby grant concerning adoptive children; what the age limit is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18201/25]
• 2025-04-10
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the new income disregard for the carer’s allowance that will come into effect on July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18202/25]
• 2025-04-10
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if the homemaker’s scheme also covers households where parents are unmarried but a qualified cohabiting couple; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18203/25]
• 2025-04-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to extending the annual cost of disability support payment to persons in receipt of the State pension; the form this consideration has taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15127/25]
• 2025-04-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that where separated couples have shared custody arrangements only one parent is entitled to child specific payments (children's allowance, qualified child payment etc); if he has considered splitting these payments so that both co-parents can benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15718/25]
• 2025-04-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on the humanitarian assistance scheme (storm Éowyn); the number of applicants who have applied for assistance by county, in tabular form; the amounts paid out; the number of refusals of payment; the reasons for refusals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15719/25]
• 2025-03-25
  LOBBY
  Polio Survivors Ireland Social Protection

  • PQ to extend cost of disability payment to those on the state pension with disabilities
• 2025-03-19
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans on including varifocals in the optical benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11221/25]
• 2025-02-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the terms of the widow's or widower's pension, particularly in respect of non-married or cohabiting couples, and the judgment of the Supreme Court on 22 January 2024; the expected timeline in terms of the legislative changes that are required in respect of this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9018/25]
• 2025-02-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends to abolish the means test for the carer’s allowance; if this will be phased out; if he can provide a detailed timeline for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9019/25]
• 2025-02-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection how Healthy Ireland nutrition standards and specific dietary requirements are enforced in the school meals programme. [8362/25]
• 2025-02-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he has taken to ensure storm readiness and to support those impacted by storms given the recent issues that arose in the aftermath of storm Éowyn. [8361/25]
• 2025-02-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the renewal of public services cards needs to be done in person and no longer via phone or online; if he will consider facilitating online or over the phone renewals for public service cards, given the challenges this poses for anyone with reduced mobility or for elderly people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8365/25]
• 2025-02-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has considered additional staffing given increased applications for additional needs payments. [8364/25]
• 2025-02-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration could be given to the provision of free transport to those in emergency accommodation. [8363/25]
• 2025-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the average processing time, by payment, in tabular form. [8228/25]
• 2025-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of additional needs payments and the number disallowed in 2019 and in 2024, by category, in tabular form. [8229/25]
• 2025-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the mean and maximum waiting times for additional needs payment, by county, in tabular form. [8230/25]
• 2025-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he is taking to reduce application waiting times for social welfare payments. [8360/25]
• 2025-02-25
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that persons wishing to become funeral/wedding celebrants who hold a Master's in chaplaincy are required to undertake a course at considerable expense to be entitled to become a celebrant; if he will examine an exemption from this for holders of relevant qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7566/25]
• 2025-02-24
  LOBBY
  Polio Survivors Ireland Social Protection

  • Annual Cost of Disability Payment
• 2025-01-15
  LOBBY
  The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA Social Protection

  • Farm Assist
• 2024-07-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if gluten-free meals will be provided under the school meals programme, similar to the nut-free policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28314/24]
• 2024-05-14
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection what supports are in place under his/her Department to assist a person with a disability to get back to into work, including supports for entrepreneurs; and the organisations that might assist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21350/24]
• 2024-05-08
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection how the nutrition standards for school meals are being monitored, implemented and enforced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20627/24]
• 2024-05-08
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection what safeguards have been put in place to ensure that the hot school meals programme is being rolled out in accordance with the nutrition standards for school meals; what resources are in place to ensure the standards are being met; if further resources are needed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20628/24]
• 2024-04-23
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to expand the training support grant to cover longer-term courses and those above QQI Level 6; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17563/24]
• 2024-04-23
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to someone returning to education part-time and continuing to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17564/24]
• 2024-04-16
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if tenants in cost rental tenancies are able to access rent supplement; and if not, the reason this is the case. [16172/24]
• 2024-04-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection what options are available to a worker in a caring situation (details supplied). [14252/24]
• 2024-03-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 246 of 7 December 2023, the number of appeals that were decided on by the original decision-making official in the year preceding the July 2023 changes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12706/24]
• 2024-02-21
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if any changes to provide children's benefit payments to 18-year-olds in full-time education will be backdated for the school year in which the change is introduced. [8162/24]
• 2024-02-14
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if supports exist for self employed persons with children with special/additional needs; if so, the qualifying criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6739/24]
• 2024-02-14
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of any additional payments/scheme which may apply to persons who are in a house share and who qualify for a social welfare payment which would ordinarily entitle them to the fuel allowance, but have been denied due to the means of the other household members who are not related in any way and who live entirely separate lives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6806/24]
• 2024-02-07
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection whether contributions made from working in a country (details supplied) can be used to calculate entitlements to a contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5036/24]
• 2024-02-07
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a way to have contributions for self-employed persons working the requisite number of hours to qualify for carer's benefit where they do not pay contributions in class A, B, C, D, E and H; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5039/24]
• 2024-01-23
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the unemployment levels amongst social groups, that is, men, women, young people, people with disabilities, and migrants; what specific plans her Department has to support these groups and increase employment across all; the success of these plans to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2842/24]
• 2024-01-23
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the underemployment levels amongst social groups, that is, men, women, young people, people with disabilities, and migrants; what specific plans her Department has to support these groups and increase employment across all; the success of these plans to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2841/24]
• 2024-01-17
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the options available to a person (details supplied) in a situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56480/23]
• 2023-12-07
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 709 of 7 November 2023, if precautions are in place to ensure that the deciding officer who rejects an applicant’s social protection payment is not also the appeals officer who conducts the appeal on the rejected application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54373/23]
• 2023-12-05
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection how much her Department has spent on advertising on a website (details supplied) for each of the years 2019 to 2022 and to date 2023, in tabular form; and whether her Department will still run advertisements on the platform going forward due to issues. [53807/23]
• 2023-12-05
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if self-employed individuals are excluded from the rent supplement scheme regardless of whether they meet the requirements of the means test, as outlined by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53819/23]
• 2023-11-21
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection how many staff members in her Department have received training in cyber security in the past three years; what types of cyber security training programmes have been conducted; if she will provide details of these programmes; and of the staff trained in cyber security, how many have obtained accredited cyber security qualifications. [50805/23]
• 2023-11-21
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on cyber security consultants and companies within her Department in the past three years; if her Department engaged in cyber security audits with outside firms in the past three years; if so, the expenditure on same; the amount her Department spent on cyber security consultants and companies in the past three years; and for a breakdown of these expenditures by year and type of service provided. [50823/23]
• 2023-11-21
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any ongoing contracts or commitments with cyber security firms; and if details can be provided [50841/23]
• 2023-11-21
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has a policy and plan in place to address a ransomware attack and restore her Department's IT systems. [50859/23]
• 2023-11-07
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if precautions are in place to ensure that a person who decides to decline a payment to an applicant is not the person who conducts the appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47409/23]
• 2023-11-07
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if supports are in place to facilitate the purchase of laptops and other necessary IT equipment for people who are long-term unemployed and who need such equipment for education courses to help them re-enter employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48623/23]
• 2023-10-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the options available to a person (details supplied) in a situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45497/23]
• 2023-09-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of providing the WALK providing equal employment routes, PEER, employment support service model in all 26 counties for people with disabilities. [40255/23]
• 2023-09-11
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if carers from Northern Ireland are entitled to free travel on public transport in this State; if there are reciprocal arrangements for carers across the island to travel for free on all public transport; if not, the reason that is the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38122/23]
• 2023-06-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the current rate of pay for the job initiative scheme; if there are plans to increase this; and the measures she will take to help JI employees in the face of the cost-of-living crisis. [27892/23]
• 2023-05-25
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if mobile and software applications from a company (details supplied) will be banned from Government devices to protect users’ data from being passed to state security services, in light of information outlined in a media report. [25382/23]
• 2023-05-16
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the programmes, further supports and initiatives for enterprise and business community that are funded under her Department; the capital, current and total 2023 budget allocation for enterprise under her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23178/23]
• 2023-04-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a list of contracts her Department currently has with a company (details supplied); and the estimated value of those contracts. [20192/23]
• 2023-04-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual cost of providing domiciliary care allowance to children aged 16 and 17 years, in view of the fact that children can no longer access this payment once they turn 16 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17033/23]
• 2023-04-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people received the household benefit scheme in 2020, 2021 and 2022; and the cost of the scheme to the State in each of these years. [17034/23]
• 2023-04-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection what supports are available for employees and self-employed people with chronic illness to attend medical appointments during work time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17035/23]
• 2023-04-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection whether considerations have been made to ease the eligibility criteria for partial capacity benefit to increase security for all cancer patients seeking to return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17036/23]
• 2023-04-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider the possibility of streamlining applications for the additional needs payments for cancer patients on the basis of the non-medical costs of cancer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17039/23]
• 2023-03-28
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the school meals programme budget by 5%, 10%, 20% and 25%, respectively. [14768/23]
• 2023-02-22
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of funding allocated for the humanitarian relief scheme under the Supplementary Estimate for 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9144/23]
• 2023-02-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the capital, current and total 2023 budget allocation for the humanitarian support scheme, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5388/23]
• 2023-01-24
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the total monetary amount of non-repayable moneys provided by her Department through grants, funding supports, tax breaks or other means to businesses in each of the years 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [3389/23]
• 2023-01-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an outline of the options available to a person (details supplied). [63159/22]
• 2022-12-06
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any plans to extend the fuel allowance to persons on a scheme (details supplied). [60278/22]
• 2022-10-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to any scheme or funding available to assist a family whose home has been extensively damaged by fire and requires substantial restoration work, who are unable to fund this work and who do not have house insurance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54012/22]
• 2022-10-04
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will investigate if a person (details supplied) is entitled to a travel pass; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48553/22]
• 2022-07-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if a six-month extension will be given to one-member pension arrangements to comply with the IORP II Directive. [40429/22]
• 2022-07-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if a six-month extension will be given to one-member pension arrangements to comply with the IORP II Directive. [40430/22]
• 2022-07-12
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the consideration that was given to facilitating persons with disabilities who may have issues with getting their photograph taken for example a visually impaired person who cannot look directly into the camera or may not be able to stay still, to use the online system for applying for a public services card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37114/22]
• 2022-06-16
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if any changes will be made to the qualification criteria for the back to education allowance for older workers who decided to return to education having lost or left their job due to the impact of the Covid-19 crisis. [31398/22]
• 2022-06-14
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of providing the WALK providing equal employment routes, PEER, employment support service model in all 26 counties for people with disabilities. [28839/22]
• 2022-05-17
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the fuel allowance; the number of applications for fuel allowance; the number of refusals for fuel allowance over the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24274/22]
• 2022-05-17
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the price substitute between bituminous smoky coal and smokeless coal; if the fuel allowance will be increased to take into account any prohibition of the sale of bituminous smoky coal, wet wood and sod turf; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24275/22]
• 2022-03-31
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if a husband and wife can receive the fuel allowance in circumstances in which both are in receipt of a contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17311/22]
• 2022-03-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to allow single non-widowed persons who are not in receipt of a qualifying payment to receive the living alone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16352/22]
• 2022-03-23
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of contracts that her Department has with a company (details supplied); the location, nature, value and type of contract in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15415/22]
• 2022-03-23
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial supports that are available for a family that is in inappropriate accommodation which it owns and which is no longer suitable for their child who is a wheelchair user in cases in which the financial circumstances do not allow for the family to purchase a new house; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15443/22]
• 2022-03-22
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps her Department is taking to uncover, address and reduce bogus self-employment from a social insurance perspective, especially in State-funded agencies or in areas in which public monies are being spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7298/22]
• 2022-03-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the delays experienced by workers from outside the State in a sector (details supplied) in obtaining a personal public service number; if she has plans to expedite the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11727/22]
• 2022-02-03
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to safeguard the jobs including the terms and conditions of the workers in jobs clubs now run by Turas Nua; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5311/22]
• 2022-01-19
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason women who were previously married but subsequently obtained a divorce are being asked to secure the signature of their divorced partner when they attempt to register the birth of a child with their new partner; if she will raise this with the General Register Office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63149/21]
• 2021-12-16
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason self-employed workers cannot claim illness benefit; if there are plans to change this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62729/21]
• 2021-11-23
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection when the Civil Registration Service will be able to accept posted paper registrations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57142/21]
• 2021-11-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the way the Report of the Commission on Pensions will be assessed by the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if there is a timeline for its journey through the Houses of the Oireachtas. [54671/21]
• 2021-09-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount allocated towards the work placement experience programme. [43328/21]
• 2021-07-06
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the enterprise support grant for businesses impacted by Covid-19 is not available for those who closed their Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment on or after 1 May 2021 given many businesses reopened in May and are excluded from the scheme due to the 1 June 2021 date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36026/21]
• 2021-07-06
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the new working group to tackle the issue of food poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36516/21]
• 2021-07-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is drafting plans to tackle youth unemployment with specific focus on those not in education, employment or training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29937/21]
• 2021-06-24
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of providing the WALK PEER employment support service model in all 26 counties. [33980/21]
• 2021-06-16
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of special enterprise support grants for self-employed persons issued to date; and the amount of funding provided by county and in tabular form. [32266/21]
• 2021-06-16
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding that will be provided to deliver the 10,000 places for the work placement experience programme outlined in the Economic Recovery Plan 2021. [32267/21]
• 2021-06-16
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding that will be provided to deliver an additional 3,000 places on State employment schemes outlined in the Economic Recovery Plan 2021. [32269/21]
• 2021-06-16
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding that will be provided to deliver the new youth employment charter and the new EU reinforced youth guarantee process outlined in the Economic Recovery Plan 2021. [32270/21]
• 2021-06-16
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding that will be provided to deliver the 8,000 JobsPlus scheme places outlined in the Economic Recovery Plan 2021. [32273/21]
• 2021-06-16
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding that will be provided to deliver the 150 employment case officer job coaches during 2021 to conduct 1,600,000 one-to-one case worker and jobseeker meetings over a rolling 12-month period as outlined in the Economic Recovery Plan 2021. [32274/21]
• 2021-06-16
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of indexing core social welfare rates to 27.5% of average weekly earnings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32265/21]
• 2021-05-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the case of person (details supplied); when they will receive a transition payment including arrears owed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28496/21]
• 2021-05-25
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the initiatives being undertaken in her Department in relation to addressing food poverty; the research or scoping exercises being undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27799/21]
• 2021-05-19
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if the rules relating to requalify for jobseeker’s benefit and short-time payments will be suspended for workers, such as those at a company (details supplied), can have access to this support. [26733/21]
• 2021-05-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if workers (details supplied) can still claim the pandemic unemployment payment for the loss of part-time work. [25268/21]
• 2021-04-21
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports in place for young persons from 18 to 24 years of age who are not in employment, education or training. [18476/21]
• 2021-04-21
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that undertook a programme (details supplied) during its existence; and the cost of the programme. [20065/21]
• 2021-04-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the fuel allowance; the number of applications for the fuel allowance; the number of refusals for the fuel allowance over the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17707/21]
• 2021-04-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the price substitute between bituminous smoky coal and smokeless coal; if the fuel allowance will be increased to take into account any prohibition of the sale of bituminous smoky coal, wet wood and sod turf; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17708/21]
• 2021-03-24
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the grant scheme for persons on the pandemic unemployment payment who are studying for a transport manager's CPC qualification; if there is a mechanism by which a person on the scheme who has started to study can claim this grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14274/21]
• 2021-03-10
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has read the research paper by a union (details supplied) which explores inequality and deprivation in Ireland. [13523/21]
• 2021-03-10
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of students who undertook work experience or internships with State and semi-State agencies under her aegis in 2019; the cost in terms of wages and allowances; and the estimated numerical capacity of State and semi-State agencies to provide work experience and internships on an annual basis. [12962/21]
• 2021-03-04
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason workers in the aviation industry on casual contracts due to Covid-19 are not entitled to the pandemic unemployment payment. [12368/21]
• 2021-03-03
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Covid-19 rent supplement will be extended beyond 31 March 2021. [11762/21]
• 2021-01-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of comprehensive reviews of the welfare support claims of staff of a company (details supplied) currently being undertaken by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2501/21]
• 2021-01-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if a new review of the welfare support claims of the staff of a company (details supplied) is currently being undertaken by her Department. [2502/21]
• 2021-01-14
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether sufficient measures are in place to ensure that workers in the private sector working in essential service jobs can self-isolate if required to do so without significant loss of earnings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1987/21]
• 2021-01-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department or State agencies under the aegis of her Department have awarded contracts to a company (details supplied); if so, the value of such contracts; if the contracts were tendered for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44793/20]
• 2020-12-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the national social target for poverty reduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43398/20]
• 2020-12-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of targets under the national social target for poverty reduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43399/20]
• 2020-12-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025; the reason no national anti-poverty strategy was in place for the years 2017-2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43400/20]
• 2020-12-08
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to designate sodium valproate syndrome as a severe disability to allow children impacted get access to domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41172/20]
• 2020-12-08
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) who has moved home from abroad and has made PRSI contributions since but falls just short of the requisite PRSI contributions for maternity benefit will be given maternity benefit; and if not, if either of the solutions (details supplied) will be put in place. [41774/20]
• 2020-12-03
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason workers on the pandemic unemployment payment cannot receive the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40938/20]
• 2020-12-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons in receipt of carer's allowance are subject to Garda vetting as part of the application process for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39642/20]
• 2020-12-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons in receipt of carers allowance are subject to Garda vetting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39643/20]
• 2020-11-10
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason her Department is continuing in its refusal to issue short-time work support payments to workers (details supplied) who were in receipt of the temporary wage subsidy scheme payment from March to August 2020. [35272/20]
• 2020-10-15
  PQ
  Asked Enterprise

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the flagrant breaches of workers’ rights by a company (details supplied) in its refusal to complete employer declarations for its workers in order to access social protection payments; and if he will write to the company to request that it cease engaging in this practice of obfuscation and delay. [30363/20]
• 2020-10-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the value of regional aid granted under the regional aid guidelines granted by her Department or agencies under the remit of her Department in each of the past seven years; the value by county or lowest possible NUTS level over the period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30905/20]
• 2020-10-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to tackle bogus self-employment. [29957/20]
• 2020-10-07
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) continues to refuse to sign social welfare forms for its workers in a breach of workers’ rights; and the steps she will take to resolve the matter on behalf of the workers. [29025/20]
• 2020-10-06
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if payments to those on the back-to-work enterprise allowance scheme will be extended for the period in which those on the scheme were not allowed to trade during the lock down earlier in 2020. [28410/20]
• 2020-10-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of complaints made in respect of social welfare inspectors by year from when records commenced by area office in tabular form. [28013/20]
• 2020-09-30
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the average cost of the back to work enterprise allowance for each worker on the scheme. [27605/20]
• 2020-09-30
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the average cost of the back to education allowance for each student on the scheme. [27606/20]
• 2020-09-30
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of an additional 12,500 places funded through the training support grant. [27609/20]
• 2020-09-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to allegations by workers at company (details supplied) of the improper application of the temporary wage subsidy scheme, which has resulted in the company not completing UP80 forms for workers to access social welfare supports due to the fact that completion of the forms, workers allege, would reveal inconsistencies in the application of the scheme. [26773/20]
• 2020-09-24
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if workers at an airline (details supplied) that were in receipt of the temporary wage support scheme and on significantly reduced working days will have their claims for short term work support backdated for the period for which they were in receipt of the temporary wage support scheme. [26185/20]
• 2020-09-23
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if the extension of the restriction on redundancy rights precludes a laid-off worker who cannot afford to wait to be rehired and takes another job, and loses their entitlement to redundancy lump sum payments from the original employer; and if they will qualify for that redundancy payment at a future date when the restrictions are lifted. [25786/20]
• 2020-09-22
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason workers in a company (details supplied) cannot access backdated payment of short-time working support for the time period when they were in receipt of the temporary wage subsidy scheme. [25457/20]
• 2020-07-29
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons from the arts sector will be kept at the higher rate of the pandemic unemployment payment in view of the fact they cannot return to work until gigs and events are up and running; and if their average weekly earnings from 2019 can be used as the basis for the calculation of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19010/20]
• 2020-07-29
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she will take to replace the minimum wage with the living wage. [15755/20]
• 2020-07-21
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to maintain Covid-19 payments to artists at the higher rate until such time as the economy has recovered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17138/20]
• 2020-07-21
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to maintain Covid-19 payments at the higher rate to those involved in the entertainment industry until such time as mass gatherings are permitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17139/20]
• 2020-07-21
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to reports that an airline (details supplied) is refusing to sign social welfare forms for workers in order that workers on reduced hours or the temporary wage subsidy scheme can apply to her Department for welfare supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17141/20]
• 2020-07-21
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has engaged with an airline (details supplied), workers and their trade unions on the possibility of job losses at the airline. [17142/20]
• 2020-07-21
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has engaged with an airline (details supplied), workers and their trade unions on the possibility of job losses at the airline. [17143/20]
• 2020-07-21
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the work that has been carried out on implementing the Duffy Cahill report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17075/20]
• 2020-07-21
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 723 of 14 July 2020, if the planned early retirement allowance or pension for persons aged 65 years of age will be a means tested payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17079/20]
• 2020-06-16
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if pandemic supports will be extended for the photography and videography sectors in order that they can have the certainty required to keep businesses going until Ireland exits the Covid-19 crisis and enters a stable recovery period for small and medium businesses. [11116/20]
• 2020-06-16
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the future of the pandemic unemployment payment in the event workers still require financial support in cases in which their employment is not fully operational until mass gatherings are permitted; and the plans in place for the event industry. [11117/20]
• 2020-06-16
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the allocations made to the school meals programme in each of the past five years; the number of schools and students in receipt of same in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10958/20]
• 2020-06-16
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the allocations made to the hot school meal programme since its inception; the number of schools and students in receipt of same in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10959/20]
• 2020-06-16
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the costs associated with the extension of the school meals programme to cover youth services, early years settings and after-school programmes as part of a pilot programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10960/20]
• 2020-06-03
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the operation of the school meals programme during school closures as a result of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9633/20]
• 2020-05-13
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which the hot school meals programme is being operationalised currently; the number of schools and school children currently in receipt of hot school meals; the number for 2019; the planned number for 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4620/20]
• 2020-05-13
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the full year evaluation of the hot school meals pilot scheme will be completed and published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4621/20]
• 2019-07-23
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has advocated that the Citizens' Information Board provide independent prevention advice on gambling addiction especially in young persons in line with the information it provides in relation to alcohol and drugs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32673/19]
• 2019-06-11
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the closure of a jobs club (details supplied); if there are alternative sources of funding that can be utilised to keep the jobs club open; if there are alternative organisations that can offer this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23637/19]
• 2019-05-21
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a spouse does not receive a widowed parent grant after the death of his or her partner in circumstances (details supplied). [21427/19]
• 2018-12-19
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Med 2 form needs a signature from the spouse of the claimant; the arrangements made to facilitate a claim without this signature in cases in which the claimant and spouse are estranged, for example, in the case of domestic abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53439/18]
• 2018-12-19
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the delay in the commencement of Part 9 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015; the steps she has taken to date to address the issue; when this Part of the Act will be commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53440/18]
• 2018-11-06
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the location of the submissions made to the consultations undertaken by her Department in each of the past ten years in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44858/18]
• 2018-11-06
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the consultations undertaken by her Department in each of the past ten years in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44876/18]
• 2018-11-06
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the details of the new hot school meals pilot programme for DEIS schools to commence in 2019; the process and criteria for schools to be selected for this pilot; the timeframe for roll-out; the length of time it will be rolled out for; the person or body evaluating the scheme; if the pilot meets the nutrition standards for schools meals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45159/18]
• 2018-06-26
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the med 2 form needs a signature from the spouse of the claimant; the arrangements made to facilitate a claim without this signature in cases in which the claimant and spouse are estranged, for example in the case of domestic abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27745/18]
• 2018-05-30
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 281, 282 and 283 of 10 May 2018, the results of the on-site inspection programmes implanted since 2012 to ensure that the school food scheme rules are being adhered to, including an assessment of the type of food provided; if annual reports or figures are produced on the assessment of the scheme from same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23982/18]
• 2018-05-10
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of the free school meals programme in each of the past five years; the rates of payment per meal, child and day, respectively; the number of students availing of each meal option in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20561/18]
• 2018-05-10
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which the free school meals programme is assessed or audited in terms of the provision of suitable quality and nutritional value; the way in which the programme is assessed or audited in terms of the way in which meals are prepared and consumed; if her attention has been drawn to instances in which the lack of access to appropriate infrastructure has hindered the ability of a school to avail of the scheme or a particular meal option; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20562/18]
• 2018-05-10
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the new school food standards developed for the school meals programme will become a mandatory standard applied to all schools; the costs involved in working towards this in terms of education, training and other costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20574/18]
• 2018-02-27
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which a person who is estranged from his or her spouse or partner for reasons of domestic violence can access dental benefit on the basis of his or her spouse's PRSI contributions without having to contact him or her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10012/18]
• 2018-01-18
  PQ
  Asked Health

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health when a model (details supplied) will be established; the timeframe for same; the way in which his Department is working towards facilitating a cross-sectoral and cross-departmental approach to healthy lifestyles especially with the Departments of Education and Skills and Employment Affairs and Social Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2627/18]
• 2018-01-16
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the funding both allocated and drawn down for the reasonable accommodation fund in each of the years 2010 to 2017, in tabular form. [54412/17]
• 2017-10-04
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the protocols that will be in place if, under the new nutrition standards as part of the school meals programme, a school exceeds the numbers of days in a week that it provides a food stuff or beverage that does not meet the standards; if funding will be stopped; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42108/17]
• 2017-10-04
  PQ
  Asked Employment

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if recipe submission by schools is a requirement as part of the school meals programme funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42109/17]
• 2017-09-11
  PQ
  Asked Health

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health when the food in school forum will be established; the timeframe for same; the way in which his department is working towards facilitating a cross-sectoral and cross-departmental approach to healthy lifestyles especially with the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38124/17]
• 2017-07-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of introducing an annual scale and polish under the dental treatment benefit scheme, DTBS, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35185/17]
• 2017-05-31
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to extend the widow’s pension to unmarried couples in certain circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25934/17]
• 2017-05-31
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to assist families with increasing back to school costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25933/17]
• 2016-10-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline and possible composition for any committee to review the Gender Recognition Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30009/16]
• 2016-09-16
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was denied access to the insolvency pension fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25010/16]
• 2016-09-16
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the review to establish the action that can be taken to help persons whose former employers ceased trading without entering into a formal winding-up process, who may not access the insolvency payments scheme under the terms of the Protection of Employees Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25011/16]
• 2016-06-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of restoring the six-monthly scale and polish entitlement under the dental treatment benefit scheme. [15141/16]
• 2016-06-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of restoring the extended gum cleaning entitlement under the dental treatment benefit scheme. [15142/16]
• 2016-06-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of restoring cover for fillings under the dental treatment benefit scheme. [15143/16]
• 2016-06-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on the six-monthly scale and polish entitlement under the dental treatment benefit scheme in 2009. [15144/16]
• 2016-06-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on the extended gum cleaning entitlement under the dental treatment benefit scheme in 2009. [15145/16]
• 2016-06-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on fillings under the dental treatment benefit scheme in 2009. [15146/16]
• 2016-06-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a birth certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14023/16]
• 2016-05-17
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for processing applications under the domiciliary care allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10530/16]
• 2016-05-17
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for processing applications under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10531/16]
• 2016-05-17
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the domiciliary care allowance scheme, including the timeframe for a decision; if he is aware of the extenuating circumstances of the persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10532/16]
• 2016-05-17
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme, including the timeframe for a decision; if he is aware of the extenuating circumstances of the persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10533/16]